Sleep Apnea Appliance

Sleep apnea is a serious dental condition which a large majority of the population are experiencing. With frequent bouts of stopped breathing at night, most sleep apnea victims do not get a proper sleep routine.

Depending on the cause of the sleep apnea, the dentist can choose to apply either dental surgery or a sleep apnea appliance.

Most sleep apnea appliances are usually easy to fit and can be operated simply by the dental patient. For the best dental appliances for treating sleep apnea, you can consult Wilshire Smile group.

They have a pool of dental specialists who can deal with any of your dental issues.

How does sleep apnea occur?

A person with sleep apnea may find it difficult to realize their condition. One can only be sure by observing their sleeping behavior.

Sleep apnea occurs while the throat muscles collapse as you sleep thus closing off the movement of air in the airway.

Once blocked, one may start to become restless during sleep as you try to find a comfortable sleeping position that will open up your airway.

Sleep apnea normally has various day time symptoms like restlessness, exhaustion, and irritability which is why it is important to get a sleep apnea appliance.

Types of sleep apnea appliances

All sleep apnea appliances are categorized into two major types. The most commonly used appliance is a Mandibular advancement device.

Mandibular advancement device

This type of dental appliance normally looks like a general sports mouth guard. The appliance is placed and fitted tightly with small metal hinges on it.

One part of the sleep apnea appliance fits over the lower teeth while the other part fits over the upper teeth. The Mandibular advancement device (MAD) works by pushing forward the tongue and the lower jaw in order to prevent the throat muscles from collapsing. A MAD can be adjusted easily making it easy to be fit for anyone. Visit Wilshire Smile group today and get more information about mandibular advancement devices.

Tongue retaining device

While the tongue retaining device works in a similar way as the mandibular advancement device, it has a special compartment for the tongue. The compartment is built around the tongue and holds it forward using a suction force as you sleep.

This device is normally used for people whose tongue interferes with their sleep by obstructing the airway. This is usually ideal for dental patients who may not need a jaw re-positioning for one reason or another.

Benefits of a sleep apnea appliance

Most dentists view sleep apnea appliances being more convenient than CPAP masks since these appliances are easier to use for dental patients. What’s more, the size of the appliance is small and sometimes goes unnoticed.

Also, oral appliances rarely have side effects like a dry nose or itchy nose as compared with other types of sleep apnea treatment.

For the best dental treatment for sleep apnea, you can rely on Wilshire Smile group for their skilled dental specialists.